JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Patience is a virtue on courses such as the Timuquana Country Club, but when opportunity strikes – as it did on the back nine Saturday for Steve Stricker – it’s time to take charge.
Stricker came from two shots off the lead through 12 holes by playing the next four at 5 under, and with a tournament-record 64, seized the second-round lead in the Constellation Furyk & Friends at 11-under 133.
Tournament host Jim Furyk (69) and Mike Weir (68) are tied for second at 8 under and will play with Stricker in the last group for Sunday’s final round.
Not to be dismissed are Lee Janzen (68) and Thongchai Jaidee (65) at 7 under. There’s a crowd at 6 under led by 65-year-old Bernhard Langer (68), who had three birdies and an eagle on the back nine, Ken Duke (68), who aced the par-3 17th hole, Padraig Harrington (69), Steve Flesch (71) and Rob Labritz (71).
Harrington and Labritz both birdied the final hole.
Stricker will be trying to break a five-way tie for the most victories on the PGA Tour Champions this season with three, and he will be gunning for his third victory in four starts. Since finishing second in the U.S. Senior Open, he’s finished among the top three in five of his last six starts and Saturday was his 10th consecutive round in the 60s and his 17th in a row at par or lower.
He started his move to the top with an 8-foot birdie putt at the par-5 13th, converting a bunker shot. Stricker made a 15-footer for birdie at the par-3 14th, eagled the par-5 15th on a 25-foot putt and then dropped another one of similar length at the par-4 16th.
“You never know when a run like that’s going to come,” he said. “You just try to keep plugging along. Some of these par 3s you’re just trying to get it on the green. You literally are just trying to get it on the green and go from there, make a par and move on. They’re difficult to hit.”
Stricker played the par-5s at 5 under and made par all six times he missed a green.
“He’s playing really solid right now,” Furyk said. “We’re going to have to go catch him.”
Furyk made only one birdie among his first 12 holes but he drove the ball better (hitting 11 fairways) and failed to get up and down only once after missing five greens.
“I’m actually real happy with the round today,” said the Jacksonville resident. “To be honest with you, more solid. [Friday] I got a little loose, hit some awkward tee shots, had some really good saves, especially on the way…
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